Mandrel with expansible chucks



Oct 1963 A. T. WILLIAMS ETAL 3,108,757

MANDREL WITH EXPANSIBLE CHUCKS Filed June 50, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 21 L7 Charles RTidIand Hrl'h UP T Williams INVENTORS BY M 0 41 H1 fys.

Oct. 29, 1963 A. T. WILLIAMS E TAL I 3,108,757

MANDREL WITH EXPANSIBLE CHUCKS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 30, 1960 I NVEN TORS M/ Mx Cha ris RTzdland Hr'i'hur T Wfllzams United States Patent3,108,757 MANDREL WITH EXPANSIBLE CHUCKS Arthur T. Williams and CharlesR. Tidland, both of R0. Box 1014, Camas, Wash. Filed June 30, 1960, Ser.No. 39,897 3 Claims. (Cl. 242-681) This invention relates to expansiblechucks, and to a mandrel construction comprising a shaft with expansiblechucks spaced axially thereon for the support of a hollow roll core.

Web material such as paper, cloth, etc., commonly is wound and rewoundon tubular roll cores duringv the process of producing and distributingthe material. In the winding and rewinding of such material, there is aneed for mandrel mechanism that quickly and easily may be insertedwithin the roll core, and that can then be actuated so as to grab theinside of the core with suflicient firmness whereby the roll core andmaterial Wound thereon may be rotated by rotation of the mandrel. Thisinvention contemplates a mandrel having axially spaced chuck mechanismssupported on a shaft, each of the chuck mechanisms including inflatableexpansible means whereby after the chuck mechanisms are inserted withina roll core, they may be made securely to grab the core. The inventionconcerns a novel construction for the mandrel, as well as a novelconstruction for each chuck mechanism. The invention is acontinuation-in-part of an application, now abandoned, filed September12, 1958, SN. 760,623, entitled Pneumatic Chuck for Roll Cores.

Among the objects and features of the invention is the provision of anovel form of mandrel that accommodates itself easily to differences inthe lengths of roll cores. According to the invention, an improved formof mandrel is contemplated that comprises a pair of inflatableexpansible chuck mechanisms on a shaft for effecting contact with theinside of a roll core, one being fixed to the shaft and including a stopflange that indexes one end of a roll core positioned thereon, and theother being nonrotable but axially shiftable on the shaft and having astop flange that in operative position is abutted against the oppositeend of a roll core. On expansion of the inflatable chuck mechanisms,each grabs an end of the roll core, and drive to the core may betransmitted from the shaft to the core through both chucks that arenonrotatable on the shaft. Axial shifting of the floating chuck isinhibited after inflation by reason of its contact with the roll core.

An object of the invention also is to provide an improved form of chuckmechanism especially constructed to withstand, over long operatingperiods, the high torques to which such a chuck mechanism typically maybe exposed. Thus, the chuck mechanism comprises a removable, infiatable,annular envelope of elastic material, and this is supported in the chuckmechanism between opposed flanges provided in a mounting for theenvelope. The mounting is split, and easily broken down to enableremoval of the envelope. Mechanism also is provided positively lockingtogether the expansible envelope and mounting, whereby the two rotate asone. The interlocking mechanism establishes a firm driving connectionbetween the mounting and the expansible envelope with the mounting inoperative position, but, with the mounting broken down, the interlockingmechanism disengage easily.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a means forinterlocking the annular envelope in a chuck mechanism with its mountingwhich comprises lugs projecting axially from radially extending wallsclosing off the axial ends of the envelope. The radial walls provide themost effective means for imparting rotation from the chuck mechanism tothe envelope, as these join di- 3,108,757 Patented Oct. 29, 1963 rectlywith outer circumferential wall portions of the envelope that clamp ontothe inside of a roll core. There is no twisting caused by the lugs ofthe inner circumferential wall of the envelope relative to its outercircumferential wall. Also, the torque load on the lugs themselves isreduced to a minimum by positioning them as far as possible radiallyoutwardly on the envelope.

Another object is to provide an inflatable annular envelope,specifically designed for easy replacement, that has means for lockingit on a mounting and means for inflating it that are operativelypositioned by axial shifting of the envelopeinto a mounting.

Other objects and advantages are attained by the invention, and the sameis described hereinbelow in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a roll, such as roll of paper, having ahollow roll core and with the core mounted on spaced-apart chuckmechanisms in a mandrel, as contemplated by this invention, withportions of the roll and roll core broken away;

FIG. 2 is a side view, somewhat enlarged, of a fixed chuck mechanismthat is part of the mandrel in FIG. 1, with portions of the chuckmechanism broken away;

FIG. 3 is a view of the right end of the chuck mechanism shown in FIG.2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 3,illustrating details of the valve stem for an inflatable envelope in theinvention;

FIG. 5 is a side view, somewhat enlarged and with portions broken away,of a floating chuck mechanism of the mandrel in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a side view of an inflatable elastic envelopev employed ineach of the chuck mechanisms; and

FIG. 7 is an end view of the inflatable envelope shown in FIG. 6.

Referring now to the drawings for a description of a particularembodiment of the invention, and with reference now in particular toFIG. 1, 10 indicates generally a mandrel mounting a roll of webbing suchas paper. The paper roll is indicated at 12, and is wound on a hollowroll core 13. Mandrel 10 comprises an elongated shaft 14, which may bepower driven by conventional means (not shown), having intermediate itsends a section 16 of polygonal or square crosssection. Supported onsection 16 of the shaft, and spaced axially therealong, are a pair ofchucks or chuck mechanisms, indicated at 18 and 20. 7

Chuck mechanism 18, as will be described, isclamped to section 16 sothat its relative axial position on the shaft section is fixed. Thus,this chuck is referred to as a fixed chuck. Chuck mechanism 20, on theother hand, is axially shiftable on shaft section 16, and is referred toherein as a floating chuck or chuck mechanism.

Considering first of all fixed chuck 18, and referring now to FIGS. 2and 3, the chuck comprises a split mounting 22 made up of an annular rimmember 22a, and detachably secured to rim member 22a and axially alignedand adjacent the, member, an annular retainer member 2212. Rim andretainer members 22a, 22b are det-a'chably secured together by screws24. These extend through accommodating bores provided in the retainermember and are screwed into accommodating threaded bores provided in therim member.

Rim member 22a comprises an annular shoulder or flange 30 having adiameter shaped to fit snugly within the hollow core of a roll, asillustrated in FIG. 1. Integral with and extending in an axial directionto one side of the shoulder or flange is a stem portion 32. The stemportion has a diameter that is reduced from the diameter of shoulder30'. Bordering shoulder 30 along the margin of the shoulder that iscloser to the end' of shaft section 16 is an annular stop flange 33'.

. stem 32 together define an elongated continuous recess 35 extendingcircumferentially around split mounting 22. The recess is used to mountan annular inflatable envelope of elastic material, generally indicatedat 36, which later will be described in more detail.

Split mounting 2.2 has a passage or channel 40 extending axially throughits center. Passage .40 has a cross ,section which is polygonal orsquare, and complements the cross section of shaft section 16. Thus,with the split mounting mounted on the shaft section, the two are keyedfor relative rotation. Q

The fixed chuck is secured on shaft section 116 from axial shiftingtherealong by means of a clamping member 42 secured as by screws 44- rtoa clamping flange .46 integral with the rim member. Clamping member 42has walls 42a, 42b at right angles to each other that fit over two ofthe sides of square shaft section '16. The clamping flange, in a similarmanner, haswalls 46a, 46b

. at right angles to each other that fit over the. other two sides ofthe shaft section. When the clamping member is brought down on theclamping flange, the two grab the shaft section 16 and firmly holdmounting 22 in place.

"Considering now annular inflatable envelope 36, this is shaped as a.doughnut, and has an inner cylind-rically shaped circumferential wall 50adapted to rest on stem portion 32. Joined to Wall St) are radiallyextending end walls 52, 54. Integral with these end walls and formingthe outside of the envelope is a cylindr-ically shaped circumferentialwall 56. With the envelope in place and deflated, a roll is easily slidover outer wall 56 with the core snugly sliding on shoulders 30, 32. Oninflation of the envelope, by reason of the confinement of the enve--lope produced by the stern portion and the shoulders on either side ofthe envelope, the envelope expands radiallyoutwardly, and outer wall 56comes into gripping or clamping contact with the inside of the hollowroll core.

The envelope and split mounting are constructed so that with the chuckin operative position, the two are locked from relative rotarydisplacement. This enables drive to be transmitted to roll 12 fromsquareshaft section 16 through the split mounting and thence the elastic,envelop e. The construction selected also makes pro- ,vision for readydisengagement and separation of the envelope from the mounting in theevent the envelope need be replaced. Locking of the envelope and splitmounting together is done by lug and socket means acting on radialendwalls 52, 54. These are joined directly to the outer cylindrical wall56, and using this construction there is no tendency for wall 56'to betwisted relative to Wall 50.. Further, the construction enablesplacement of themeansengaging the envelope radially outwardly on theenvelope, where torques are not as great i as those that could resultatother locations, as for example if the lugs were joined to wall 50-.

Specifically, and now with reference to FIGS. 2, 6, and 7, equallycircumiferentially spaced over radial'walls 52, 54 are axially extendinglugs or buttons 60 integral with the radial walls. These, intheembodiment illustrated,

.are cylindricalin shape. Recessed into the sidesof shoulders 30, 34 arecavities 62 that are cylindricalin shape :and complement in size anddistribution buttons 60.

:With the chuck assembled, as in FIGS. 2 and 3, the buttons fit. withinthe cavities, and the envelope and split -envelopes. Y 1

valve, whereby the flow of air'in-to and out of the envelope may becontrolled. The valve stem extends through a bore 68 provided the rimmember in the assembled chuck, as shown in FIG. 3.

It will be noted that by reason of the axial direction of buttons orlugs 60, and the axial direction of the valve stem, and because theretainer member may be shifted in an axial direction away from the rimmember to open recess 35 along the length of the recess, interlocking ofthe envelope with the mounting is easily accomplished, yet the envelopeis readily removable when and if desired. To take the envelope off themounting, the retainer member. at the left in FIG. 2 is first removed.The envelope .may then be shifted axially to the leftby sliding it overthe stem portion with the buttons projecting from radial wall 54 slidingout 'of cavities 62 and wtih the valve stem sliding. axially out of bore63. To-insert a new inflatable envelope, the process is'reversed.

Considering floating chuck 20, the construction of this is somewhatsimilar to that of the fixedchuck just described, save that the clampingflange and clamping member of the fixed chuck are eliminated. Thus, andwith referencetoFIG. 5, the floating chuck comprisesa split mounting 70made up of rim member 70a and'retainer .Vmember 70b. The two parts aredetachablysecured together by screws 72. Each member of the mounting hasan annular shoulder (shouldersm, 76) and these are separated by a stem'73, with the shoulders and stem defining .a recess '89 extendingcircumferentially about the split mounting. A stop flange 79 correspondsto flange 330i the other chuck. An, axially extending passage or channel82 of square cross section conforming to the cross section of shaft 16'is provided through the center of the split mounting.

Within recess 829 is an annular inflatable elastic envelope 84.Thisenvelope is of the same size and shape as envelope 36, and isprovided withbuttons or lugs 86 projecting into accommodating cavitiesformed in the side walls of shoulders 74, 76. .The envelope is replacedas .is envelope 36 discussed inlconnection with the fixed edge of rollcore 13 comes into contact with stop shoul- 1der 33 (the shoulder thusindexing the roll). The heating chuck is then slid over the end ofshaft'14 and onto shaft section 16 and thence into core 13 until'stopflange 79 abuts the opposite edge of core 13. -'If the inflatableenvelopes of the two chucks are then inflated, theinside of the rollcore is gripped by the outer walls of the It should ibenoted that themandrel can handle with equal facility heavy and light rolls; With aheavy roll,

some eccentricity o'f'the roll on theshaft may occur,

and when this happens the roll is supported, partially at :least, onshoulders 74, 76, 34, 30 ofthe chucks. As the -roll diminishes in size,the roll centers itself, with the envelopes radially expandingsubstantially uniformly about their circumferences.

It is claimed and desired to secure lay-Letters Patent:- 7 1. Arnandreladapted to support the inside of a hollow roll core comprising anelongated shaft; a fixed chuck secured to the shaft adjacent one of itsends; and a floating chuck axially slidable on said shaft butnonrotatable relative thereto nearer the other end of the shaft; each ofsaid chucks comprising a mounting having wall portions defining a recessextending circumferentially about the mounting, an annular inflatablemeans seated within said recess and operable on' inflation to enlargeradially and to come'into'clainping engagementwith the inside of a rollcore, an inner shoulder on "one side and an outer shoulder on the otherside of said inflatable means constructed snugly to fit within the rollcore, and an annular stop flange bordering the outer margin of the outershoulder having a diameter larger than that of the inside of the rollcore.

2. A mandrel adapted to support the inside of a hollow r011 corecomprising an elongated shaft; a fixed chuck secured to the shaftadjacent one of its ends; and a floating chuck axially slidable upon theshaft nearer the other end of the shaft and nonrotatable relative to theshaft; each of said chucks comprising a split mounting having annularrim and retainer members detachably joined together and together havingwall portions defining an annular recess extending circumferentiallyabout the mounting, said mounting being constructed so that ondetachment of the rim and retainer members said recess is opened upcontinuously along one side, a unitary inflatable annular envelope ofelastic material seated within said recess, a first annular shoulderprovided on the mounting on one side of the envelope and a secondannular shoulder provided on the mounting on the other side of theenvelope, said annular shoulders being constnucted to fit snugly withina roll core, said envelope on inflation expanding radially outwardly toproject beyond the shoulders and come into clamping engagement with theinside of a roll core, and an annular stop flange bounding the margin ofsaid first shoulder, said stop flange having a diameter larger than thatof the inside of the roll core.

3. A mandrel adapted to support the inside of a hollow roll corecomprising an elongated shaft; a fixed chuck secured to said shaftadjacent one of its ends; said fixed chuck having a radially enlargeableannular surface adapted to fit within a roll core, and abutment meansfor abutting the end :of a roll core spaced toward said one end of saidshaft from said surface; and a floating chuck slidably mounted on saidshaft but nonrotatable relative to the shaft; said floating chuck beingspaced toward the opposite end of said shaft from said fixed chuck; saidfloating chuck having a radially enlargeable annular surface adapted tofit within a roll core, and abutment means for abutting the end of aroll core spaced toward said opposite end of the shaft from its saidannular surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,134,475 Green Oct. 25, 1938 2,145,806 Schnedarek Jan. 3, 19392,285,966 Hamilton June 9, 1942 2,449,654 Jessop Sept. 21, 19482,583,117 Piperoux et al. Jan. 22, 1952 2,585,999 Bunch Feb. 19, 19522,697,563 Miller Dec. 21, 1954 2,707,082 Collard et al. Apr. 26, 19552,857,749 Fabbri et al. Oct. 28, 1958 FOREEGN PATENTS 505,102 CanadaAug. 17, 1954 545,303 Canada Aug. 27, 1957

1. A MANDREL ADAPTED TO SUPPORT THE INSIDE OF A HOLLOW ROLL CORECOMPRISING AN ELONGATED SHAFT; A FIXED CHUCK SECURED TO THE SHAFTADJACENT ONE OF ITS ENDS; AND A FLOATING CHUCK AXIALLY SLIDABLE ON SAIDSHAFT BUT NONROTATABLE RELATIVE THERETO NEARER THE OTHER END OF THESHAFT; EACH OF SAID CHUCKS COMPRISING A MOUNTING HAVING WALL PORTIONSDEFINING A RECESS EXTENDING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY ABOUT THE MOUNTING, ANANNULAR INFLATABLE MEANS SEATED WITHIN SAID RECESS AND OPERABLE ONINFLATION TO ENLARGE RADIALLY AND TO COME INTO CLAMPING ENGAGEMENT WITHTHE INSIDE OF A ROLL CORE, AN INNER SHOULDER ON ONE SIDE AND AN OUTERSHOULDER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID INFLATABLE MEANS CONSTRUCTED SNUGLYTO FIT WITHIN THE ROLL CORE, AND AN ANNULAR STOP FLANGE BORDERING THEOUTER MARGIN OF THE OUTER SHOULDER HAVING A DIAMETER LARGER THAN THAT OFTHE INSIDE OF THE ROLL CORE.